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Sunday, January 4, 2015

Another year has gone by, and with it another slew of new beauty tries and buys. As I sit here and reflect on my favorite products from the last year, I thought I would share them with you. Most of these are old favorites, but some are new, because here's the thing about skincare and me... when I find something I like, I stick with it. My skin is way too fussy to try all the new products that are sent to me for promotional purposes, so I rarely try something skincare related just because it was sent. Instead, all of these are products that I have genuinely sought out and loved to death. These are my dearest and most used products from 2014 and before. If I was going to be stuck on a deserted island, or say, stuck in Tennessee for 2-3 months without warning (thanks, back), these are the skincare products I would like to have with me. Cleanser: Eve Lom Cleanser. I had two really big cleanser loves this year, and they were the Eve Lom cleanser and the Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish. The Liz Earle absolutely stole my heart for a good long while, and pulled me away from the Eve Lom with a huge tug, but in the end I went back to Eve Lom. Here's the thing. I actually like the application, texture, and the scent of the Liz Earle more, but after a few months of using it, it started to break me out. I went to Space N.K. and asked the girl her advice, and she recommended moving back to Eve Lom, so I did, and my skin cleared up. Now, this isn't to say that the Liz Earle isn't an amazing cleanser, it might be that my skin got used to it and that I need to alternate between the two. Currently, in TN, I am using Eve Lom, and I bought my mom her own jar, which she is loving. I have a dedicated review on the Eve Lom Cleanser here, and the Liz Earle Cleanser here. Toner: Cane & Austin Retexturizing Treatment Pads. These babies are incredible. I have other acidic toners, including Alpha-H's Liquid Gold and Pixi Glow Tonic, but I love the tingle and packaging of the Cane & Austin ones. They are easy to travel with because they are way less likely to spill as opposed to bottle toners, and BONUS, the top is reflective and doubles as a laser beam for Pinecone when the light bounces off of it. The brand makes a stronger version that the loveliest sales associate at Space N.K. gave me to try but I haven't yet because they are in LA and I am... well, in bed. In TN. With a broke-ass back. Literally. At $1 a pad, I would say these are on the pricier end but think of them as a chemical peel... much cheaper than getting a treatment at the spa. I love these pads so much that I have a dedicated review of themhere.

Exfoliator: Pevonia Enzymo-Spherides Peeling Cream. This is another product that I have used for quite literally years, and I swear to you guys... every single time I use this I notice a difference. I have a makeup artist that I work with quite regularly, and he now requests that I use this the night before working with him, as he can notice a tremendous difference in my skin when I use it. The way it works is that it is an enzyme exfoliator, meaning it doesn't have little balls that rub your skin, instead, it has Pineapple and Papaya enzymes that slowly eat away at your dead skin cells, working to eliminate impurities and blackheads and giving you healthier skin overall. This stuff is gold. Serum: I have two serum loves, an old one and a new one. The old fav is the Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate, which I have a review on here. It's the most lovely overnight elixir with tons of good stuff to help hydrate your skin whilst you sleep. I love this so much that I bought my mom one for Christmas this year, and she loved it. She had tried it once before, a few summers back, and enjoyed it, but never took the plunge to buy one for herself, so I took it upon myself to do it for her, and her skin is looking mighty fine.

The new favorite is the SkinCeuticals Phyto Corrective Gel. I bought this after a lady used it on me during a facial, and I immediately loved the texture and look of it. The product is a bright green color which helps combat redness or sensitivity in your skin, which I rather love. It looks terrifying in the bottle but once it's on your skin it blends in perfectly. It's an ultra gentle formula that is oil-free and suitable for all skin types, especially acne-prone or sensitive. It's meant to make your skin clearer, brighter, and more radiant with regular use. I can do a full review of this if you guys would like!I've been using both of these serums regularly, alternating days or using the Skinceuticals in the morning and the Kiehl's at night, and I can definitely say that I recommend both. Moisturizer: This one is super easy, as I have been obsessed with my Pevonia Myoxy-Caviar Timeless Repair Cream for years. Literally, years. It was once used on me during a facial many moons ago, and I instantly fell in love with the scent, the texture, everything. *Sigh* This stuff is crazy expensive and sometimes I question repurchasing it for that reason alone but I always do. It's that good. Eye Cream: I have had quite a few favorites in this category this year, but the one that has stood out and the one that I just repurchased for myself is the Bobbi Brown Extra Eye Repair Cream. It's more expensive than her sister eye cream, the Hydrating Eye Cream, but I find it much richer and more moisturizing for my dry under eyes. If you want a lighter cream, the hydrating one is one I would definitely recommend, but for me, the Extra Eye Repair is my baby. I actually did an entire "rave review" on this eye cream a few years ago, so it has been a favorite for quite awhile. You can watch that review here - link!Eye Makeup Remover: This is a category that I struggle with... I just have never found "the one" when it comes to eye makeup remover. It's so incredibly annoying, because I think that eye makeup remover is a really important product that can damage your lashes and your sensitive eye skin easily if it is too harsh, or if it doesn't work very well and you have to rub hard. I like this Chanel one and this Lancome one fairly well, but neither of them are "omg holy grail will never use another". I would LOVE recommendations for this category.

Face Mask: I am a huge face mask fan, and I have a favorite that stands out in a "omg I have to tell you about this because you need it" way. It is the Antipodes Aura Manuka Honey Mask, which is a deeply moisturizing and cleansing mask. Manuka Honey is know for it's natural anti-microbial and hydrating properties, and on top of that this mask is said to bring balance to your Aura, meaning you are tending to both your skin and your spirit with this mask. I love that. This mask is a bit hard to find, as my usual source, Feel Unique, is sold out, but I did manage to find it here - link!

Lip Treatment: Dior Creme de Rose. Hands down. Quite possibly my favorite product in the entire world. I've gone through quite a few of these babies and there is a NIGHTMARE-inducing rumor floating around that they have been discontinued, which might be the saddest and scariest thing I've ever heard. Go get you one, now, before they are gone. They are amaze-balls. *Stocks up on 10 before the apocalypse*

Extras: You know how everyone has that one thing that they spend money on that they think to themselves... should I really be splurging on this? Well, this is my product, but it is oh so good. My name is Elle Fowler, and I am addicted to eye patches. I have tried all sorts of them, and love them all, but if you really want to treat yourself try the Wei Tibetan Chrysanthemum Correcting Eye Treatment Pads (wow that's a mouthful). They are basically just a pair of eye pads soaked in pure herbal extract to help treat dark eye circles and puffiness, which let's be honest, I need. Plus, they just feel so soothing and refreshing... ahh I just love these.

Would you like me to do a post like this for favorite makeup and haircare? I think they are a nice reference point to quickly see my current favorites in a specific category, and to see which products stay long time favorites.

P.S. I thought I would do a little giveaway to go with this post...

P.P.S. I just updated the "beauty deals" section of this website... check it out if you have holiday money burning a hole in your pocket or you are coveting some new beauty goodies! Link!

Wow, it's been a long while since I have blogged on here, hasn't it? Last night, I wrote a long post for my lifestyle blog, iheartyoucoffee, so if you are so inclined I would love for you to head on over there and have a read! I give a nice long update on where I've been and my thoughts on my blogs at the moment, but to make a long story short, I am back. I miss blogging, a lot. I love videos, and I think videos will always been my "main" passion, but there is something about blogging that is so different from videos, in a good way. If you have read the other post than you will know this already but I have one New Years Resolution and that is to blog more, and to be more organized with my main 4 online outlets. In that post I touch on the idea of combining my blogs, and after sleeping on it I really think I want to keep it separate. I understand why it would be better to combine them, but at the same time I want the content to be more streamlined and curated on each blog. I personally don't enjoy reading blogs that are all over the place, so I want my two blogs to reflect a specific kind of vibe. I have so many ideas for posts, and since I am still on bed-rest this is the perfect time to bank some content! I would love for this post to be the main "requests" section for blog posts you would like to see on either blog. Please leave me as many comments as you like!